The Giving Impact Moving Healthcare Forward: Winter 2024

The Giving Impact

Moving Healthcare Forward: Together Campaign

Seasons of Hope

VNAHG’s 2023 Seasons of Hope adopt-a-family program brought joy to over 1,800 individuals, including over 1,000 children. Generous donors – inspired by the stories of patient families – provided new clothing, toys, and food gift cards to further enhance the wonderful care provided to VNAHG families year round. Outreach in our community resulted in the placement of 15 Giving Trees within faith organizations, libraries, schools, and businesses. Those Giving Trees generated additional support to meet the goal of providing hope to every family identified as in need.

Seasons of Hope at VNAO

Inspired by the caring commitment of the staff, VNA of Ohio’s Community Leadership Council members and generous donors from the community once again managed the Seasons of Hope program in the greater Cleveland area. Families were nominated and donations accepted for patient families to ensure their holiday seasons were a little brighter.

Employee recognition events NJ Recognition Event: Held on November 2 at iPlay America in Freehold. Over 600 employees enjoyed this annual event, which started with a cocktail hour, dinner, and dancing, and ended with fun and games in the tremendous boardwalk-style game center. Recognition awards were presented to the “of the Year” winners, and milestone anniversaries were celebrated.

Florida Recognition Event: The Florida team held a recognition event on December 5 at the AC Marriott in Sunrise.

Guests were treated to a night of cocktails, dinner, and a comedy show with 3 local comedians.

Ohio Recognition and Holiday Event: Held on December 19 at the Aviator in Cleveland, this event featured an evening with dinner, dancing, and a celebration to present the “of the Year” employees and recognize those celebrating milestone anniversaries.

Lights of Life

Lights of Life, an annual donation appeal benefitting VNA Health Group’s Hospice Program, was launched in November. The hospice program provides compassionate end-of-life care for hospice patients and families in need. Loved ones were able to memorialize the lives of people they had lost by making a donation to the program.

All donors received a light catcher, which symbolizes compassion and transformation by catching light and reflecting their loved Hospice ones’ memories. The Lights of Life campaign was very successful with 328 donors raising over $25,000 this year.

New grant funding will expand Mobile Outreach Clinic Program

Monmouth County recently awarded VNA of Central Jersey’s Children and Family Health Institute $100,000 per year for three years to expand its Mobile Outreach Clinic Program, or MOCP. The MOCP team works to improve the well-being of some of the most vulnerable people in the community - those who are homeless, mentally ill, addicted to drugs, developmentally disabled, or victims of domestic violence, as well as a myriad of other challenges they may face.

“Sometimes our nurses are the only healthcare providers these folks will see,” said Robin McRoberts, director of community programs for VNA of Central Jersey. “MOCP clients are commonly isolated, lonely and without family support. They often lack knowledge about their own healthcare needs.”

McRoberts explained that two nurses lead the program and go wherever help is needed.

“They will go to soup kitchens, food pantries, shelters, warming centers, even a laundromat -- wherever they can reach some of these folks on the margins,” she said. “Many have a mental health diagnosis, plus one or more secondary diagnoses, like substance abuse.”

For 30 years, VNA has facilitated this unique program, and the numbers continue to increase. McRoberts said that today, they are seeing clients with more complex needs. Many need help from other care providers as well, and the MOCP nurses help them navigate the often complicated medical and social services system.

Treasures of Cleveland

Treasures of Cleveland was held on October 13 at the Cleveland Yachting Club, overlooking beautiful Lake Erie. It was a festive cocktail party enjoyed by over 130 volunteers, donors, employees, and community leaders. Dr. Airica Steed, President & CEO of MetroHealth System, proudly served as the honorary event chair. Also recognized that evening were: Monica Robins, WKTC-TV Senior Health Correspondent, with the Healthcare Community Leader Award; Reidy Medical Supply’s Ted and Rita Stitzel with the Corporate Philanthropy Partner Award; and Bob Solich of Busch Funeral Homes with the Art of Caring Award. Over $50,000 was raised to support VNA of Ohio’s programs and services.

2024 Special Event Save-the-Dates!

Saturday, April 20

Rockin’ by the River

The committee for the Cristine Meredith Miele Fund will hold Rockin’ by the River on April 20 at The Riverhouse at Rumson Country Club. The event proceeds will benefit VNA of Central Jersey’s breast health initiatives provided through the Cancer Education and Early Detection (CEED) program.

Saturday, September 14

Beach Ball

Beach Ball

Beach Ball is back! A casual end-ofsummer party on the Jersey Shore featuring fare from Local Restaurants and Food Trucks, a Live and Silent Auction, dancing and more!

Chapel Beach Club, Sea Bright

holiday bash

Saturday, December 7

Holiday Bash

A festive holiday Cocktail Party in support of VNAHG’ Hospice programs and services.

Spring Lake Golf Club, Spring Lake

Thursday, December 12

Car Raffle Drawing

Hosted on VNAHG’s Facebook Live

Emerging Leadership Board

CAR RAFFLE

VNA Health Group’s Emerging Leadership Board (ELB) held its annual fundraising event on November 17. This year’s event was titled Shake, Rattle, & Roll and was held at Cross and Orange in Asbury Park. The energetic and highly successful event featured dueling pianos, a chance auction, and a wine toss. Over $30,000 was raised for the Children and Family Health Institute, which provides a wide variety of health care and community-based services for thousands of children and their families across New Jersey.

Robert Dibble to chair Board of Trustees Robert Dibble will chair the VNA Health Group Board of Trustees, as announced at the organization’s 111th annual meeting in November.

He succeeds Patrick “PJ” McMenamin, who served in the role since 2018.

Dibble, managing director and head of human resources of the Americas for Deutsche Bank, previously served as vice chair of the board and is one of its longest-serving members, with 11 years of leadership.

Some of his many contributions to the board include chairing the board’s Compensation Committee and playing a pivotal role co-leading the Search Committee for new President and CEO, Christopher Rinn.

Dibble says he is inspired by the VNA’s community-based work and looks forward to helping make home healthcare even more accessible for all. In fact, he shared that his own family benefitted from VNA homecare when his mother was ill.

“What struck me was not just the excellent clinical support, but also the friendship and companionship my mother received,” he shared.

“The VNA nursing staff who spent time with my mother towards the end of her life made a significant difference to the quality of her last days. I’m forever grateful to them.”

As a strong believer in the VNAHG mission, Dibble also loves to get new people involved with the organization and was instrumental in creating the Emerging Leadership Board in 2015. The group, which aims to engage young professionals with VNAHG’s mission, is now a thriving board. In fact, Dibble was proud to say that a third person from the emerging leaders group just joined the organization’s main board of trustees.

Dibble highlighted some of his initial thoughts and goals for his upcoming two-year term.

“I want to ensure that all of my fellow trustees feel engaged and that they can contribute in ways that are important to them. This group of trustees offers diverse experience and has a high level of commitment to our mission,” he said. “I also hope to support our leadership team so they can continue to be driven and stable. And finally, I will work to foster the tremendous dedication of our whole team and the amount of pride they have in their work.”

Three other long-standing board members will also be taking on new leadership roles on the Board of Trustees this year. Eileen O’Hern Luby, Esq., will now serve as the board’s vice chair, Kathy Jones has been appointed as board secretary, and Patrick Boyle will serve as treasurer.

“Everyone on the board has something to bring to the table, which I love,” added Dibble. “I follow some really great people who sat in this seat before me and I just want to help make this the best place it can be.”

Employee Spotlight Hospice Quotes

“In hospice, I wake up every day with a sense of purpose. The patient and their family are going through a very difficult journey. The question is: when will be the last time they could hug, hold, laugh, or even have a conversation with their loved one? Is it today, tomorrow, or even next week? With the hospice team, they have someone who can walk along with them to ease their emotional, physical, and spiritual burden.”

Libertine Javelosa, Hospice RN, BSN

“I didn’t originally plan to work in hospice or to become a nurse at all for that matter. I was almost done with my degree in college when I lost someone in my life that meant a lot to me. Seeing the impact of what a “good death” could be and what a compassionate nurse and healthcare team could bring to the table made me want to be able to do that for others. Naturally, that brought me to hospice, which allows you to care for the whole person and not just the disease. Working in hospice means being the support system for our patients and their loved ones while they navigate through the unknown. Offering them guidance, empathy, education, and most of all compassion while they are navigating some of the most difficult experiences of life. Letting people know that they are not alone and that we are by their side every step of the way. I truly believe that life is about the people that we surround ourselves with, and up until the very end I want our patients to be surrounded with the compassion, warmth, and support that the VNA provides.”

Stephanie Finn, RN, BSN, CHPN, Vice President Hospice Services

“As a hospice social worker, I embrace the opportunity to share the support and resources available through our network to maintain comfort and care. No one should face this time alone. I am privileged to be welcomed into your home, to walk beside you on this journey and I am honored to hear your story.”

Marina Snead, LSW

We’re On the Move

VNAHG headquarters is moving to a new location in Neptune! The new office address is 3600 Route 66, Neptune, NJ 07753

Holiday Bash

Long-time VNAHG donors Liz and Pat Boyle were honored on December 2 as VNA Health Group kicked off the holiday season at its festive Holiday Bash at Spring Lake Golf Club. The Boyles have generously supported VNAHG for many years and have served as leaders to the organization, its patients, and the community. Nearly $100,000 was raised from this fun evening to benefit VNA Hospice programs and services as guests enjoyed the silent auction, wine toss, dinner and dancing to live music by The Pat Roddy Band.

Car Raffle

A beautiful white 2023 Jeep Sahara Wrangler 4x4 (valued at $51,500) was the winning prize for the annual car raffle. Throughout the course of the year, 1,286 raffle tickets were sold, raising over $61,000 for VNA Health Group’s programs and services providing home health, hospice, primary, and community based care to all patients in need. The winning ticket was #0997 and was drawn on December 14 by a special holiday visitor via Facebook Live at VNAHG’s Holmdel office. Congratulations to the lucky winner, Dana Tavoularis, a VNAHG employee! Thanks to all who purchased tickets to make this raffle a huge success!

111th Annual Meeting

VNAHG President and CEO Christopher Rinn hosted trustees, leaders, donors, and guests of honor for its 111th Annual Meeting at Two River Theater in Red Bank, NJ on November 15th. It was a beautiful evening to celebrate the organization’s work over the past year and acknowledge special awardees for their contributions to its success.

Evening program featuring keynote speaker Judith Persichilli, former commissioner of the New Jersey department of Health VNAHG is proud to recognize our 2023 Awardees: ● Senator Vin Gopal (Community Partner Award) ● Steve Landers MD, MPH (Judith Stanley Coleman Award) ● The Horizon Foundation for New Jersey (Philanthropic Partner Award)